Beef Yakisoba Recipe [Quick and Easy]

WHAT IS BEEF YAKISOBA?

Yakisoba is a Japanese stir-fry dish made with ramen noodles, vegetables, and meat. This hearty dish is then seasoned with yakisoba sauce, a sweet and savory condiment similar to Worcestershire sauce.

I’m using rice noodles, lean strips of steak, heaps of veggies, and a sugar-free yakisoba sauce in this healthy beef yakisoba recipe.

You’ll love this healthier take on authentic beef yakisoba because it’s still delicious!

Yakisoba is Japanese for “fried soba” or “fried buckwheat noodles,” but the dish is typically made with Chuka soba (a Chinese wheat flour noodle) rather than buckwheat noodle.

I’ll be using gluten-free ramen noodles made of millet and rice in this recipe.

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WHAT ARE YAKISOBA NOODLES?

Yakisoba noodles are distinct from the buckwheat noodles known as soba noodles.

Yakisoba noodles, like ramen noodles, are wheat noodles with kansui (an alkalinizing agent) added to give them a springy texture and a yellow hue. Yakisoba noodles are usually steamed before packaging, so they cook quickly.

Look for yakisoba (usually fresh or frozen) or chuka soba noodles (which are often available dried). Ramen noodles, either fresh or dried, can be used. 

WHY IS THIS THE BEST BEEF YAKISOBA RECIPE?

Why bother making this when microwave beef teriyaki yakisoba containers are so convenient? Here are a few of the reasons:

• This quick beef yakisoba comes together entirely on the stovetop, so it doesn’t require much effort. Plus, I believe you’ll find it far superior to microwave ramen. The extra effort is definitely worthwhile!

• Unlike most beef yakisoba recipes, this one makes use of whole grain ramen noodles. If you want to learn more about the ingredients, scroll down to the “ingredients” section. Whole grains contain fiber and additional nutrients that refined grains lack.

• This healthy yakisoba recipe contains no added sugar, which is unusual for a dish of this type! The only sugar present is the type found naturally in vegetables (and some of the other ingredients).

• Extra vegetables piled in: I stuffed this dish with a variety of colorful vegetables and shiitake mushrooms. If you want to eat more vegetables for health reasons, this is the recipe for you. (In my opinion, the vegetables make the dish more colorful and visually appealing.)

• Plenty of high-quality protein: Beef takes center stage in this dish, providing protein as well as highly bioavailable iron and zinc. If you want to make a vegan or vegetarian version with “real foods,” replace the beef with chunks of seasoned tofu. (In case you’re wondering, my personal definition of “real food” is food that hasn’t been overly processed.)

BEEF YAKISOBA INGREDIENTS

Many of these ingredients adhere to the more traditional recipe style, which leans toward the umami.

If you prefer more fresh, balanced flavors, add 2 tablespoons of lime juice to the yakisoba sauce and garnish with fresh coriander.

• Noodles – The best noodles to use are dry wheat noodles. They hold up the best in terms of textural integrity, but fresh wheat noodles can also be used to speed things up.

• Yakisoba Sauce – The following ingredients can be found in most large grocery stores: Worchester sauce, oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, and mirin. I prefer to get these ingredients from a Chinese supermarket because they have better flavors for Asian cooking.

• Pickled Ginger – Is typically found alongside other Asian ingredients; it is pink and stored in a jar with pickling juice at room temperature. Once opened, store it in the refrigerator.

WHAT IS JAPANESE WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE?

Japanese Worcestershire sauce, like traditional British Worcestershire sauce, is made with vegetables (tomatoes, carrots, and onions), fruit juice (prune, apple, and lemon), and broth, as well as vinegar, sugar, salt, and spices.

Japanese Worcestershire sauce is sweeter than British Worcestershire sauce.

WHAT KIND OF BEEF DO YOU USE?

For this dish, you can select from a variety of beef cuts. Just make certain that it is a tender, flavorful cut. You can make this dish with flank steak, flatiron steak, ribeye, or top sirloin.

Japanese markets frequently sell very thinly sliced beef for sukiyaki, which also works well for this dish. Pre-sliced steak is more expensive, but it saves time on preparation, so it’s sometimes worth it!

If you’re slicing the beef yourself, try to make it as thin as possible. To make this process easier, place the meat in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes before slicing. The meat will become firmer and easier to cut as a result.

BEEF MARINADE FOR YAKISOBA INGREDIENTS

I didn’t use a beef yakisoba marinade for this stir fry noodle dish, but I did make a sauce. I don’t think you need to marinate the beef because of the flavorful sauce.

Most beef yakisoba sauce recipes call for Worcestershire sauce and ketchup, both of which contain sugar.

By omitting the Worcestershire sauce and using a low-sugar ketchup, my version is refined sugar-free. Even without Worcestershire, the dish has a lot of umami flavor from the soy sauce, mushrooms, and other ingredients.

LEFTOVER BEEF YAKISOBA

This dish, in my opinion, does not keep well as leftovers because the noodles begin to stick together. In other words, I wouldn’t make this as a meal prep recipe.

If you want to make this ahead of time, stir fry the beef and vegetables together with the sauce.

When ready to serve, cook the noodles, then add them to the reheated beef and vegetables and stir in the sauce (on the stovetop). The use of freshly cooked noodles makes a huge difference in the texture of this dish.

TIPS FOR DELICIOUS YAKISOBA

• To reduce the amount of time spent waiting between dishes, prepare all of the ingredients ahead of time.

• It’s best to make Yakisoba in a Wok pan because it gives the food enough room to cook. If you don’t have a Wok, you can substitute any large pan.

• To ensure a well-balanced flavor, cut the beef into thin strips.

• Keep an eye on the cooking times, as the sauce can dry out and the Yakisoba can come out dry.

FAQs on Beef Yakisoba Recipe

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Other recipes to try:

Beef Yakisoba – Japanese Fried Noodles With Beef

Yakisoba Quick and Easy

Beef Yakisoba